GHYG vs QQQ
iShares US & International High Yield Corp Bond ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, GHYG or QQQ?
High Yield Bond against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | GHYG | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.40% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $197M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.22% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 1,750 | 107 |
| YTD Return | -3.29% | +16.87%Best |
| 1Y Return | -2.50% | +22.98%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +6.73% | +24.98%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +2.21% | +14.39%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 8.0%Best | 17.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -52.4% | -35.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,155 | $19,586Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | High Yield Bond | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Apr 3, 2012 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 5, 2012 to Sep 11, 2026 (14.4 years).
GHYG vs QQQ growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
GHYG vs QQQ Performance
iShares US & International High Yield Corp Bond ETF (GHYG) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year GHYG returned -2.50% while QQQ returned +22.98%. Year to date, GHYG is down 3.29% versus a gain of 16.87% for QQQ.
Over three years, GHYG compounded at +6.73% per year against +24.98% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +2.21% and +14.39% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.00% annualized vs +4.10%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.5% compared with 8.0% for GHYG. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -52.4% for GHYG and -35.1% for QQQ. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.65. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GHYG charges 0.40% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $40 vs $18 annually, a gap of $22 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GHYG currently yields 6.22% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 1,008 holdings in GHYG and 102 in QQQ, totalling 56.1% and 99.9% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 1,008 positions we hold weights for in GHYG and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 1,750 and 107.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of GHYG and QQQ you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, GHYG or QQQ?
GHYG has an expense ratio of 0.40% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $22 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GHYG or QQQ?
Over the past year GHYG returned -2.50% vs +22.98% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), GHYG annualized +4.10% vs +18.00% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GHYG or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 17.5% annualized versus 8.0% for GHYG. Worst drawdown: GHYG -52.4% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both GHYG and QQQ?
GHYG and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.65, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, GHYG or QQQ?
GHYG yields 6.22% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so GHYG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than GHYG?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.